Date Added: 2008-06-05

The Honda Formula 4-Stroke Powerboat series returns to the city of Plymouth after a year’s absence on June 14th & 15th for the second leg of its 2008 championship season.

Now the world's leading one-design powerboat series, boasting almost 40 competing teams split between the 150 and 225hp classes, the fleet is back and will be putting on a huge on water extravaganza. Instead of their usual double act when they shared the event with the more powerful Class I fleet, this year it’s the turn of Honda Formula 4-Stroke to head the event when it joins forces with smaller Offshore Circuit Racing (OCR) plus a round of the Class III offshore championship series .

Plymouth has produced some of powerboat racings finest talent, including local property developer Chris Parsonage. Chris competes internationally in the larger Class I category, a class he brought to Plymouth in previous years. Following closely in his footsteps is son Gavin Parsonage who walked away with last year’s Honda F4SA 2007 225hp Championship aboard Negotiator alongside navigator Nathan Libby.

The duo have returned this year to defend their title while facing further local competition from two 225hp teams, Scream-it.com and 2008 rookies driving Notorious. The competition looks tough for the rest of the 225hp fleet as Negotiator has already proved its mettle yet again by winning the opening round of the series at Torquay three weeks ago.

“Admittedly this year’s competition is going to be quite tough. I don’t really have any major concerns over any one boat in particular although we had some tight racing with Team Williams in Torquay. I suppose if it wasn’t for problems with their engine mount we may not have taken first place. We are pretty confident that we can carry
on and defend our title no matter what we come up against”, said Negotiator’s driver Gavin Parsonage.

Spectators will be able to watch the action from Plymouth Hoe and surrounding areas as the boats take to the water. The racing starts at 11am on Saturday 14th June and continues throughout the weekend finishing on Sunday with a prize giving ceremony for the winning teams at the Waterfront Restaurant on Grand Parade at 6pm.